Overview
- U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, D.C., ruled that the president cannot direct changes to federal election procedures, citing Congress and the states as the proper authorities.
- The decision permanently enjoins the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from adding a documentary proof-of-citizenship requirement to the national mail voter registration form.
- Friday’s ruling converts an April preliminary injunction into a permanent block on the proof-of-citizenship provision in Executive Order 14,248 signed on March 25.
- Civil-rights groups and Democratic committees, including LULAC, the League of Women Voters, the NAACP and the DNC, brought the challenges; the White House said it will appeal and defended the measure as an election-integrity step.
- Other parts of the March order remain in litigation in multiple courts, including provisions on mail-ballot receipt deadlines and conditioning federal election-related funds to states.